MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Corbyn's Falklands 'negotiable' approach causes dissent among Labour
At a reception, Hilary Benn said: “I am the shadow foreign secretary… as far as I’m concerned, we believe in self determination for the Falkland Islands”. (Pic AP) 
“I am fully supportive of self determination… is it their decision to make”, explained former home secretary Alan Johnson 
While Corbyn advocates a ‘new politics’ where dissent is the norm, the status of the Falkland Islands can be extremely emotive. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn statement that the Falkland Islands are 'negotiable', a position he has maintained since he was first elected to Parliament, not only triggered immediate reaction from veterans and Falkland Islanders when he was chosen earlier this month: in effect, senior members from the party, even those within his shadow cabinet openly express their disapproval of his views, according to UK media reports.
Speaking at a Labour conference fringe event, dynastic member of parliament Hilary Benn asserted his senior position within the party to override Corbyn’s position.
Answering questions at a reception held by the government of Gibraltar, Benn said of the Falklands' question: “I am the shadow foreign secretary… as far as I’m concerned, we believe in self determination for the Falkland Islands”.
In a further embarrassment for Corbyn, veteran MP and former home secretary Alan Johnson also cast doubts on his leader’s views on the Falklands.
Speaking at a launch event for the party 'Yes to EU' campaign during the weekend, influential MP Johnson repeated Benn’s take when asked about Corbyn’s remarks over the Falklands.
Talking over a glass of wine following his speech at the event praising the EU and confirming leftist union USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Worker) would be part funding the campaign, he said: “I am fully supportive of self determination… is it their decision to make”.
While Corbyn advocates a ‘new politics’ where dissent is the norm, the status of the Falkland Islands is all but a settled issue in British politics, and can be extremely emotive.
Hours after his victory was announced, Falkland Islanders took to Twitter to post Corbyn a “quick reminder: We’re a British Overseas Territory. Don’t even think about it. Cheers.” The message has been retweeted thousands of times.
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Read all commentsI don't think that the Islanders should be over-concerned with Corbyn's stance.
Sep 29th, 2015 - 07:53 am 0It is a very minority opinion. He will never get it passed as Labour policy AND he isn't in government to try and see it through.
Argentina is not the flavour of the month with the UK press and I could imagine how they would whip up public opinion against any notion of dealing with a country who invaded UK territory and caused the deaths of so many young men. Possibly Corbyn has never bothered to find out the truth of the great Malvinas myth.
I was reading the current issue of Warships, in which there was an article about the current and proposed make up of the Argentine navy.
The Falklands their main focus for action short of shooting.
The author - an Argentinian- came out with the same old story about all the Argentians being forced at gunpoint back to Buenos Aires in 1833.
I was going to email the editorial staff with the proper account of this incident but they don't have a readers comment section.
I discovered this on the Warships site
Sep 29th, 2015 - 08:33 am 0“Please note that the Editor is not based at the HPC Publishing offices. If you wish to send the Editor a letter, or other correspondance then please send it to the HPC Publishing Offices, Drury Lane, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN38 9BJ, UK.”
Self-determination - International Law:
Sep 29th, 2015 - 08:54 am 0https://www.academia.edu/11325329/Falklands_-_Self-Determination_single_page_
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